FSSAI enables instant (Tatkal) issuance of licenses / registration in certain categories such as wholesalers, distributors, retailers, transporters, storage without atmospheric control etc.; step towards Ease of Doing Business (EODB)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) has issued an advisory enabling the provision for instant issuance of licenses/ registrations for specific categories of food businesses such as wholesalers, distributors, retailers, transporters, storage without atmospheric control, importers, food vending agencies, direct sellers, and merchant-exporters. This provision shall be an additional option alongside the existing procedure for applying and obtaining licenses/registrations. Initially the instant issuance of licenses/registrations will be rolled out only in the states/union territories of Assam, Gujarat, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and Kerala except for Partnership/Registered firms.

Applicability:

Only Food business operators belonging to select Kind of Businesses and certain food product categories falling under Annexure- 1 of the advisory (attached herewith for reference) shall be allowed instant issuance of License/Registration.

Conditions for instant issuance of licenses/ registrations:

• Methods for digital verification in case of license-

1. For proprietorship firms- Verification through GST and AADHAAR.
2. For partnership/registered forms- Verification through CIN/GST and AADHAAR.

• Methods for digital verification in case of license-

1. For Petty FBOs (listed in S. No 1 to 9 of Annexure- 1]- Verification through PAN and AADHAAR.
2. For Petty FBOs (listed under S. No 1 to 9 of Annexure- 1]- Verification through only AADHAAR.

• Declaration to be given by applicant- The applicant is required to declare that ‘He/she does not possess the valid license/ registration at the same premises, or his/her license/registration has not been suspended or cancelled by the authorities in past three months.’
• Uploading photographs of the unit- The applicant is required to upload photographs of the unit including images of the entrance/front facing of the unit. This will help identify the food business for which License/Registration has been instantly obtained.
• Validity of instant license/registration- One year. Renewal shall be as per existing procedure.
• Payment of annual fee- The applicant will be required to pay the entire annual fee for license/registration at the time of filing the application.

The provision for applying and obtaining instant license/registration along-with the User Manual/Guidance Document will be made available on the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal in due course of time.

A copy of the advisory has been linked below for ease of reference.

Source: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India